Size, ferocity of ‘fire tornado’ stuns experts in California

Dramatic new video shows the moment a massive California “fire tornado” with a base the size of three football fields whirled through the sky — claiming the lives of a fire inspector and five other victims, according to a new report.

The clip, obtained by CBS San Francisco, captures the tornado exploding in the middle of the enormous July 26 wildfire, known as the “Carr Fire,” in Redding.

Cal Fire investigators are still struggling to understand the unusual vortex of the blaze — visible in the video and formed by winds and flames moving in opposite directions.